William c



Patented Oct. Il7 |898.

w. c. A'sHwELL.

WAGON TOP.

(Application Bled .Tune 6, 1898.)'

(No Model.)

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Qu. Y @n ilnrrnn raras ArnNr V,Erica WILLIAM C. ASIAIWELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

WAGON-TO P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,225, dated October 11, 1898.

Application filed T une 6, 1898. Serial No. 682,677. (No model.)

vfordin g limited shelter from the sun and rain has been long known and used. This invention belongs to that class, and has for its object increased protection from the weather when in place and facilities for easily removing and stowing it when not required.

It consists of an umbrella-like structure mounted upon a standard provided with a curtain attached to the edges and adapted to be detachably secured to the wagon-body and arranged to be pulled taut when the umbrella is fully distended and fastened. YtThen thus strained, the several parts mutually strengthen each other, and the whole forms a stiff but light protecting-cover for the vehicle.

In the most approved form the umbrella portion is preferably rectangular in outline when in the open condition to match to the wagon-body, and means are provided for reliably holding the standard when in use and for foldingit upon itself,and thus reducing the whole tov small compass when out of service.

The invention also consists in certain details of construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafterdescribed. Y

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show the manner in which I have carried out the invention. l

Figure l is a side elevation of a light wagon equipped with my improved top. Fig. 2 is a plan or top View of the umbrella portion. The remaining figures are on a larger scale. Fig.

3 is a central longitudinal section through the wagon body and top, certain portions being shown in elevation. Figs. 4 and 5 are horizontal sections through the standard, taken, respectively, on the lines 4 4 and 5 5 in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a side View of the whole cover removed and folded.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Ais the body ofalight run-about wagon, and A is the seat, having an opening a therevbrella in position relatively to the body.

in reinforced by the thimble A2'and located directly above a squared socket A3, fixed to the floor of the body. In other respects the body and seat may be as usual and of any preferred style. The opening a and socket A3 receive the squared lower end B' of the standard B, made for convenience in two parts jointed together at b and held stiftly in line by the sleeve B2, iitting snugly over the joint and supported by the pin b'. The standard supports an umbrella-top C, comprising the covering C', ribs C2, braces C3, and'slide C?, all of which may for the purposes of this description be of the ordinary or any approved materials and construction. that certain of the ribs be longer than others, as shown', so that when the umbrella portion is open or distended the outline shall be rectangular to conform to the body, as in Fig. 2; but this is not essential.

On the sides and rear edge of the umbrella is fastened a curtain I), which may be in one piece or of three or more parts joined at the angles of the wagon-body by straps D or otherwise. The material should be a iiexible waterproof fabric, and the lower edge is provided with eyes or buttonholes matching to and receiving the buttons or studs E, fixed on the body, thereby securing the curtain thereto.

The umbrella portion is held in the fullyopen condition by the engagement of a springcatch B3 below the slide C4, as usual, and B4 is a similar catch lower down on the standard serving to sustain the umbrella in a partiallydistended condition.

In setting up the top the curtain D is unfolded or shaken out of the condition shown in Fig. 6 and the slide C* released from the catch B5. rlhe umbrella is then partly opened by movin g the slide into engagement with the catch B4, and the standard is then straightened and secured by the sleeve B2 and thrust through the opening a into the socket A3, the squared lower end B aiding to hold the urp n this slackened condition (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3) the curtain is easily attached to the buttons E, and when so secured the slide C4 is thrust strongly upward, fully distending the umbrella and drawing the curtain smooth and taut andis held in this conn I prefer IOO dition by the upper catch B3. The top is removed and folded by reversing the operation, and it may then be carried in the wagon or otherwise'conveniently stowed until needed. The invention offers a light, stron g,weather proof top or cover easily set up and removed and occupying but little space when folded. The stress imparted to the curtain when the umbrella is fully distended tends to stiften and strongly support the whole, and if the parts be properly proportioned the cover will successfully withstand any strains to which it is liable.

It is simple in construction, not expensive to manufacture, and is neat and ornamental in appearance.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions within wide limits without v departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing its advantages.

The materials employed may be varied and the invention applied to other styles of vehicles than that shown.

rlhe curtain may be attached to the umbrella by buttons or other separable fastenings to allow the umbrella portion to serve alone as a protection from the sun. Additional curtains may be employed to close the front and forward portions of the sides, if desired, and openings suitably glazed may be provided, it' necessary or desirable.

Instead of passing through the seat the standard may be supported in abracket therefrom or in an independent holder. As shown, the standard may pass between the seat-cushions When in use, and the openingin the seat will be concealed by their abutting edges when the top is out of use.

I claimcombination with two catches at different heights on the upper portion of the standard and arranged to hold the slide in position to partially and to wholly distend the umbrella, and with curtains attached to the edges of the latter and to the wagon-body, all arranged to serve substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

2. The standard B, B jointed atb and having the sleeve B2, the lateral pin projecting from the lower portion of the standard near the joint to support Ythe sleeve, the ribs C2, braces C3, covering C' and'slide O4, in combination with the catches B3 and B4 at different heights on the upper portion of the standard and arranged to hold the ribs either wholly or i tion Bl squared and jointed thereto, in com.

bination with the seat A having the squared opening a, and the socket A3 adapted to reeeive said lower portion, and a socket A2 on the under side of said seat, an umbrella-like structure C supported by said standard, and the curtainsD attached to the edges of said structure and to a wagon-body, and to be stretched taut when the structure C is in its uppermost position all adapted to serve with the-latter substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

In testimony that l claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

` NV. C. ASHXVELL.

1.-In a wagon-top, an umbrella-like struc ture, comprising a foldable, jointed standard, ribs, braces, slide, and iiexible covering, in

V V l ULIUUDUD E. J. WINTER, CHARLES R. SEARLE. 

